British Columbia burns: With 566 fires, province declares state of emergency

A wildfire burns south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, near Highway 63 on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta's main oil sands city of Fort McMurray on Saturday, fearing the growing wildfire could double in size and reach a major oil sands mine and even the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. (Jonathan Hayward /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

A wildfire burns south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, near Highway 63 on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta's main oil sands city of Fort

A wildfire burns south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, near Highway 63 on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta's main oil sands city of Fort McMurray on Saturday, fearing the growing wildfire could double in size and reach a major oil sands mine and even the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. (Jonathan Hayward /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

A wildfire burns south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, near Highway 63 on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta's main oil sands city of Fort

The British Columbia government on Wednesday declared a province-wide state of emergency, seeking more help from Canada's federal government in fighting 566 wild fires and forest fires burning across the province.

The action is designed to assure "we have all the resources necessary to keep British Columbia safe," Premier John Horgan said in a tweet.

"Taking this step will further ensure we can protect the public, property and infrastructure and assist with firefighting efforts," said Mark Farnworth, BC's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

Canada's safety minister Ralph Goodale responded: "Through air support and personnel the Government of Canada will support affected communities and First Responders who are courageously taking on this battle."

The fires have spread a pall of smoke over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, as well as Seattle and Puget Sound cities south of the 49th Parallel.

They have brought about 29 evacuation orders impacting 3,050 people and 48 alerts involving 18,750 citizens. At least 2,500 residents of the interior city of Quesnel are under an evacuation alert.

With the hits of dry summers, record heat and beetle kills of interior forests, Canada has suffered massive fire hits of late.

A portion of the historic town of Telegraph Creek, on the Stikine River upstream from Alaska, burned earlier this month.

The vast Chilcotin Plateau, in central British Columbia, burned last summer with major recreation areas closed to visitors. Fires burned summer cabins on the shores of popular Loon Lake north of Kamloops.

Two years ago, fires threatened -- and consumed some neighborhoods -- in Fort McMurray, the Alberta town that is base for the province's vast oil sands development. Long lines of cars snaked down Alberta Route 63 of citizens escaping the firees.

The Canadian Rockies have not been spared. The Simpson River trail, into fabled Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park, burned last year.